Klamath Fish Health Assessment Team Presentation to the Northwest Power & Conservation Council Regional Coordination Forum - May 12, 2016 Sara Borok & Katharine Carter

Presentation Topics  Overview Klamath Basin KFHATs Formation  Klamath Fish Health Assessment Team Who What How  Example of KFHAT in Action

Overview Why is the Klamath River Important?  2 nd largest river in CA  263 miles long  Drains over 16,000 sq miles.  Straddles CA/OR border  Used as the surrogate for all coastal stream anadromous fall run Chinook in Ocean Harvest Modeling up and down West coast CA  Multiple uses of the water Trinity River Salmon River Scott River Shasta River Iron Gate Dam Klamath River

Overview Why is the Klamath River Important?  Historic anadromous run in upper basin  Water quality impairments TMDL  Fish disease  “Upside down” river Flat upper basin - 65% of historic wetlands/marshes converted to agriculture Steep lower basin Trinity River Salmon River Scott River Shasta River Iron Gate Dam Klamath River

Overview Why was KFHAT formed? Drought

Overview Why was KFHAT formed? Drought Upper basin water shut off

Overview Why was KFHAT formed? Drought Upper basin water shut off Drought Above average predicted fall Chinook run Low flows/channel geometry caused migration barrier High water temperatures Disease FISH KILL

Overview Drought FISH KILL 34,000-70,000 fish died (mostly fall Chinook)

Overview Why was KFHAT formed? Drought Upper basin water shut off Drought Above average predicted fall Chinook run Low flows/channel geometry caused migration barrier High water temperatures Disease FISH KILL CA/OR Governors Workgroup KFHAT formed

Shasta Valley Resource Conservation District (SVRCD) Who is KFHAT? US Fish and Wildlife Service California-Nevada Fish Health Center

What does KFHAT do?  Assess conditions & provide “early warning”  Coordinate response monitoring  Inform resource managers of fish health conditions  Provide science-based recommendations for resource management actions KFHAT DOES NOT set policy or allocate resources

Data & Information Sharing  Hydrologic conditions  Fishery data and information  Disease monitoring  Water quality data  Blue-green algae Data and information utilized to determine the likelihood of a fish kill How does KFHAT do it?

Fish Kill Response Plan Training Manual

 KFHATs mission  Communication & notification protocol  Response protocols  Data responsibilities  Post event activities How does KFHAT do it? Fish Kill Response Plan

How does KFHAT do it? Fish Kill Response Plan: Zones of Lead Responsibility

How does KFHAT do it? Fish Kill Response Plan: Posters for Public Outreach

How does KFHAT do it? Fish Kill Response Plan: Notification Phone Tree

 Movement between levels based upon collective best professional judgment/group consensus  Considerations for movement between levels: Lower river flows Predicted run size Water temperature Disease Reports of dead fish How does KFHAT do it? Fish Kill Response Plan: Readiness Levels

How does KFHAT do it? Fish Kill Response Plan: Readiness Levels

Reviews Sampling protocols for:  Water quality sampling  Adult enumeration  Juvenile enumeration  Disease assessment Training Manual How does KFHAT do it?

Training Manual How does KFHAT do it?

KFHAT Website: How does KFHAT do it?

Example of KFHAT in Action 2014  Early, below average adult fall Chinook predicted run size (92,000)  3 rd driest year ( )  Klamath snow pack 31% of normal  Prolonged resident time for adult spring Chinook in lower river due to high water temperatures  Tributary flows below average, record low flows  Ich parasite infections (adults)  Columnaris & C. shasta (adults) 2002  Early, above average adult fall Chinook run size (169,297)  16 th driest year ( )  Klamath snow pack 120% of normal  Prolonged resident time for adult spring/fall Chinook in lower river due to fish passage barriers  Tributary flows below average  Ich parasite infections (adults)  Columnaris & C. shasta (adults)

Example of KFHAT in Action  August 22 – September 14: USBR released water from Trinity Reservoir to augment lower Klamath flows  September 15: Ich infections in adult salmonids  September 16 – 22: USBR released Trinity water to double lower Klamath flows due to presence/prevalence of Ich infections  October 4: USBR released water from Iron Gate Dam on the mainstem Klamath

CA Department of Fish and Wildlife Sara Borok Katharine Carter CA North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board